Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

For the third time, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up at the end of the allotted investigation period; the ride down is, as ever, smooth and quick-moving. You're down by five. When the doors slide open, the podium circle still stands in stark contrast to that now-familiar black void of a courtroom, and once again, it's changed to reflect your losses – Caren and Mion have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed greyscale profile portraits staring out at the rest of you. (The portrait of Pearl hasn't been removed from her room, but it seems the Kingmaker has replaced it with another; either way, her photograph is in the courtroom along with the rest.) As before, the Kingmaker waits until everyone is settled at their podiums before he speaks; he still isn't visible, but he can clearly be heard, his voice coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Capable has been taken from you. I'll confirm one thing for you so no one will waste time asking – the killer wasn't me. Looks like the guilty decided to take a shot at Rule Seven after all – and whether they succeed or not is up to you." Twenty-two Survivors remain. We'll see how many the group has lost at the end of the day.

Comments

[capyper]

You're really asking me to give away some serious secrets!

[ He gives his right sleeve a shake and out tumbles... his key and some of those nice candies you can find in the kitchen. ]

[cherryblooded]

Oh, I see. Good idea.

Do you have more of those in your left sleeve?

[capyper]

... Just for you, I'll share this once!

[ And out comes... man, how many candies is he hiding? Like five more candies out of his left sleeve. ]

What color do you want?

[cherryblooded]

Red, if you don't mind.

Thank you for indulging me.

[At least if he's the killer, he's not stupid enough to have an extra key still on his person.]

[capyper]

Red it is! But don't expect me to share all the time!

[ ... He was thinking about tossing it, but he'll just coerce people into handing it down around the perimeter of the circle. ]

[cherryblooded]

[Probably a better idea.]

Just this once, I promise.

[captainobnoxious]

[-- Sigrun sees that.]

Oh! Oh oh oh! Me! I want one! Let me have one! I want a blue one! Me! Lemme have one, fancy toes!

[cherryblooded]

[Similar question - does Sigrun have any pockets visible?]

[captainobnoxious]

[Pockets, no.

Little bags on her belt, yes.]

[cherryblooded]

Excuse me, Miss Sigrun. Do you think you could empty the contents of your bags for us?

[captainobnoxious]

Oh, yeah, sure. Nothing too interesting though.

[There's three on her left side and none on her right, and she sets the sword aside to empty them. There's bandages for a quick fix, some food from the machine, and the last is empty; she even shakes each one to show there's nothing else in there.]

[cherryblooded]

That's interesting. Your key's not in there.

[captainobnoxious]

[Ah, is that what he's looking for. She shuffles through the front of her jacket and pulls it out from her chest.]

I keep putting it in here 'cause otherwise I'll forget. Things like this are not the keys I'm used to, I'd usually keep them on a ring on my belt here.

[cherryblooded]

I see. Makes sense.

I'm sorry, could you take that jacket off and let someone look at it? Not that I expect anyone to have two keys on them, but if they turn out to later and I didn't try to find out, I'll regret that.

[captainobnoxious]

You're thorough as ever, Cherry. No problem.

[She's got no issue with it. Sigrun sets her phone down, shrugging off her jacket and handing it off to literally whoever wants a cool jacket today. Because she has on a snug black turtleneck, if there was any outline of another key, it'd be seen.

There is no such lining. She's free.]

[cherryblooded]

I see. Thank you for your assistance.

[He's definitely relieved to see that.]

[capyper]

[ !!! ]

Blue ones are the best! [ Just look at his bright baby blues, of course he thinks the blue candies are the best. ] I was going to say no, but you have good taste.

[ He'll toss that one across for her!! ]

[captainobnoxious]

[YES!!! SHE GETS TO HAVE A CANDY!!!

She is eating this right now.]

You're good people, fancy toes! Thanks!

[capyper]

[ WINK AND A PEACE SIGN... ]

There are a ton of 'em on the back of the highest shelves in the kitchen. Just, you know. For future reference!

[isafraid]

[Speedwagon's just kind of... watching all of this. You guys]

That's a good bit of persuasion, isn't it? Probably not enough to catch a murderer mind...

[capyper]

[ .... are you judging him for his candies?! ]

You're not coming after my sweets stock too, are you?

[isafraid]

[Why would he ever judge anyone for their candies??]

Not unless it has something to do with the murder. [He shakes his head.] Your stock should be safe otherwise.

[capyper]

Good! Because I work hard, you know, picking the best of the best and all that!

[ ... no he doesn't, he just takes a bunch and shoves them up his sleeves ]